Officials provide update in explosion that destroyed public works building in Lancaster Co

Rapho Township, Lancaster County — UPDATE | Picking up the pieces. A Lancaster County community is beginning the long recovery process after a building explosion that levels one structure and damages more than a half dozen others. For now, Colebrook Road remains shut down for the foreseeable future. With all of the damage, it’s hard to fathom that no one was hurt despite six workers being close to the chaos.

“Total devastation with the municipal building. It looks like a war zone,” said Rapho Township Supervisor Jere Swarr.

Six township employees were heading into work around 6 a.m. when one noticed the smell of gas emanating from the building. In less than ten minutes, and even after shutting off the gas valves, the building exploded.

“I have never seen an explosion or felt an explosion like that before,” said Rachel Ruhl who lives about a mile away.

“They structurally have lost their public works building which houses all of the equipment from road signs to shovels to pay loaders and dump trucks,” said Lori Shenk, Rapho Township EMA Coordinator.

But the destruction is not just confined to the DPW building. In the same complex, the Rapho Township Office Building also sustained heavy damage. Six to eight homes nearby were also impacted.

“It's devastating. Yet on the positive side, no one was hurt or injured, no one was killed,” Swarr said.

Amazingly, the six workers were not hurt. Thinking quickly, and getting away from the building, the burst was almost like a massive mushroom cloud and managed to miss the men.

“They are all a little bit shook up because this is quite a big event. But they are fine,” Shenk said.

Clean up is already ongoing. Early damage estimates potentially fall between five and ten million dollars. But, property is replaceable. No lives lost is a miracle.

“It's scary, but I mean, it can happen at any time. It's just one of those freak things,” said Ruhl.

“We will be back. They didn't kill the soul of our community. They didn't blow our community's soul up,” Swarr said.

That damage estimate from the Township Supervisor Swarr is a very early and raw guess. Crews are still analyzing the damage and what it will take to make fixes.

Propane experts are emptying and burning off the rest of the gas in the tanks.

Because of all of this activity, expect Colebrook Road to be shut down in this area until at least the end of the week.

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Authorities have provided more details regarding a building explosion in Rapho Township early Wednesday morning:

Lori Shenk, Emergency Coordinator for Rapho Township, says there are reports of structural damage in the nearby area and that officials are still working to determine the full extent of the total damage.

Shenk says crews are still working to put out some hot spot fires in the area.

The cause is unknown and is still being determined at this time by the PSP Fire Marshal.

Mastersonville Asst. Fire Chief Jeff Siegrist says an employee initially alerted authorities about the fire after smelling propane in the building and, luckily, did not turn the lights on.

Shenk states that the Rapho Twp. Office building was damaged in the explosion but it is unclear to what extent.

The public works building behind the office was completely destroyed.

Due to the incident, Shenk says tomorrow's municipal meeting will be held at the East Fairview Church of the Brethren at 7:30 p.m.

Rapho Twp. supervisor Jere Swarr says six workers evacuated the building.

Swarr also says that all the equipment held in the public works building was destroyed, including trucks, payloaders, etc.

"The explosion did not damage the heart of Rapho Tosnwhip. We will be back. We'll rise up," says Swarr.

Shenk stated that there is no air quality concern due to the explosion.

The two propane tanks that were on site at the building have been secured.

Shenk ended the press conference saying that an update will possibly be provided at 12 p.m.

Anyone who was evacuated from their homes is being assisted by the Red Cross at an evacuation center at East Fariview Church of the Brethren, located at 1187 Fairview Rd, Manheim.

Officials say Red Cross Disaster Action Team are "providing comfort, care, water, and snacks for the evacuated residents."

At this time, six homes have been evacuated.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE | An explosion has severely damaged a government building in Lancaster County.

According to emergency dispatch, the incident happened at the Rapho Township Public Works building behind the township's office building on 971 N. Colebrook Rd.

Photographer, Zach-DeAnne Jones captured footage of the scene:

Officials say the gas explosion occurred due to a propane leak at the building.

There were individuals in the building but authorities say everyone was luckily evacuated before the explosion.

No injuries have been reported at this time.

The entire 900 block of N. Colebrook Rd. has been evacuated.

CBS 21 News currently has a crew on scene.

This is a developing story, stay with CBS 21 News for more information.

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